Gainesville’s Efforts in Addressing Climate Change

1. Gainesville’s Efforts in Addressing Climate Change For the Alachua County Energy Strategy Commission Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan, P.E

2. Presentation Overview • Local Government Actions on Climate Change • Introduction to Gainesville • What we’re doing and why • What climate funders can do to help cities reduce greenhouse gas emissions • Gainesville Demographics and Geography • The University’s Neighborhood • Challenges and Opportunities

3. Local Government Actions • Cities for Climate Protection - ICLEI • U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement • Control over decisions on transportation infrastructure, land use and zoning, building codes, landscaping, waste management, land conservation, and, in some cases, power generation

4. Cities for Climate Protection - ICLEI • Worldwide movement of local governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and enhance urban sustainability • Gainesville joined in 1998

5. Cities for Climate Protection • Establish an inventory and forecast of key sources of greenhouse gases in the City’s operations and community; • Set a cost-effective, feasible and meaningful greenhouse gas emissions goal that balances multiple air emissions criteria, considers regional and global implications, and takes into account achievements attained to date; • Develop and adopt a local greenhouse gas action plan to achieve those reductions; • Begin implementation of the plan; • Monitor and report on greenhouse gas emissions and the implementation of actions and measures.

6. United States Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement • Strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities, through actions ranging from anti-sprawl land-use policies to urban forest restoration projects to public information campaigns; • Urge their state governments, and the federal government, to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target suggested for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol -- 7% reduction from 1990 levels by 2012; and • Urge the U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation, which would establish a national emission trading system

7. USCM Sign-on Status • Today, almost 730 cities have signed the USCM agreement, representing over 25% of the U.S. population • In Florida, about 70 of the 410 mayors have signed; Gainesville joined in 2005

8. Introduction to Gainesville • Economy, Environment, Demographics • Actions on Climate Change

9. Community Overview • City population is + 122,000 in 55 square miles • County population is + 243,000 in 928 square miles • Home to the University of Florida • Municipal Utility - 2 power plants, 2 wastewater plants, water, natural gas and telecommunications • Police, Fire/EMS, Public Works, Parks, Planning, Economic Development, Cultural Affairs, etc.

10. Low Property Tax Base, Reliance on Public Utility

11. In 2004, it became evident the future might look different from the past…

12. In 2004, Rejected a Plan to Expand our Coal Generating Capacity • Hired ICF to look at all conservation and energy generation options • Adopted new standards for conservation programs and dramatically increased funding

13. Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004

15. Areas of Focus for Carbon Reduction • Implementing Energy Conservation • Reforming Energy Supply • Rethinking Transportation • Integrating Land Use Planning • Reinvesting in the Urban Core • Expanding Land Conservation • Planting Trees • Pursuing Partnerships and Following the Leaders

16. Changes To Carbon Emissions

17. J. R. Kelly Repowering of Unit 8 to Combined Cycle 108,204 tons of CO2 Offset

18. Traffic Light Sequencing 91,691 Tons of CO2 Offset per Year (At Project Completion)

19. LED Traffic Light Conversion 3,053 Tons of CO2 Offset per Year (166 Intersections)

20. Current Conservation106,519 tons of CO2 Offset per Year(through 2006)

21. Rebates and Incentives • Low Interest loans for HVAC improvements, water heaters, insulation, solar photovoltaics, duct repair, etc. • Rebate programs for all of the above • Whole house program for low income residents • Site-specific rebates for businesses; up to $40,000 per site, for up to 50% of cost • 25% building permit discount and fast-track permitting for meeting LEED standards • CRA incentives allow reimbursement for LEED buildings

22. A/C Trade In Program

23. Light Bulb Replacement Program

24. In-Store Lighting Promotion at Home Depot

25. Effect of Demand Side Management with Adopted Conservation Plan 2007 Reduction of 15,091 MWh Which equates to: 13,439 tons ofCO2 2020 Reduction of 227,000 MWh Which equates to: 202,144 tons ofCO2

26. Landfill Gas to Energy4,179 tons of CO2 Offset per Year57,120 tons of CO2 Equivalent using 23:1 ratio for Methane (Landfill Gas Consumption Rate of 300 CFM)

27. 10,000 Acres of Forest Preservation33,917 tons of CO2 Offset per Year

28. Land Conservation for Carbon Sequestration, Quality of Life, Sprawl Control

30. The Sprawl Factor

31. Where we build is as important as what we build This map shows urban growth in North Florida in 1973, 1995 and 2020 based on building permits and growth plans.

32. Mixed Use Redevelopment

33. Green Building – County courthouse built to meet LEED standards

34. Green Development

35. Distributed Generation and CHP

36. Energy Efficient Transformers 19,302 tons of CO2 Offset per year

37. RTS Impact on Personal Vehicle Use 6,150 Tons of CO2 Offset per Year Based on 2003 Data and Statistics

38. Police Department Upgrades – 943 tons of CO2 Offset per year

39. Solar PV Systems - 17 tons of CO2 Offset per year

40. GRU Customers Support Solar • Would you support or oppose GRU’s efforts to encourage solar energy investments in your community if it would add one dollar or less per month to all customers’ utility bills? Source: RKS Research on behalf of GRU, sample of 403 residential customers

41. Walmart 250KW Solar Array – A Partnership * GRU only eligible for 4%

42. Black & Veatch 8

43. Black & Veatch 9

44. Estimated Cost • $2.2 - $2.7 million • Includes structure and panels Black & Veatch 10

45. Other Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Efforts

46. Tree Planting for Beautification, Carbon Reduction, Creating Shade

48. 6TH ST WALDO RD 13TH ST UNIVERSITY AVE HAWTHORNE RD MAIN ST ARCHER RD 16TH AVE SW Neighborhood Retention Basin

49. RFP on the Street for Biomass, based on Burlington, VT Model • Now requesting biomass-based energy options • The nuclear question

50. So, where are we?